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Doug Sams Named Offensive Line Coach for Tackles and Tight Ends

Doug Sams, a veteran coach of 27 years on the college and professional levels, today was named offensive line coach for tackles and tight ends, head coach Walt Harris announced. Sams replaces John McDonell, who left Stanford to join the coaching staff at Purdue University.

Sams, a 1978 graduate of Oregon State University, most recently was the head coach at Northern Michigan University the past four seasons (2002-05). He has been a head coach for 16 years at three different schools.

'Doug is a veteran coach who will be able to come in and have a positive impact immediately,' said Harris. 'He is experienced in coaching offensive football and his technical knowledge will be an asset to our program. We're very fortunate to have Doug join our staff,' he said.'

Sams (born July 12, 1955) was the head coach at Fairmont State College in West Virginia for 10 seasons (1992-2001) before taking over at Northern Michigan. At Fairmont State, he compiled an overall record of 53-47, was named the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) Coach of Year in 1996 and led his team to two league championships in '96 and 2000. His overall head coaching record is 71-81 in 16 seasons.

Prior to his tenure at Fairmont State College, Sams spent three years (1989-1991) as the offensive coordinator for the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League. He was the head coach for one season (1988) at Urbana University, an NAIA school in Ohio.

Sams spent two years in the CFL in 1986 and '87. He was the defensive line and special teams coach in 1987 for the Edmonton Eskimos and the offensive line coach for the Montreal Alouettes in 1986. During his one season in Edmonton, he helped the Eskimos win the Grey Cup.

Sams began his coaching career in 1978 as a part-time defensive line coach at Oregon State. He then moved on to Northern Iowa for four years (1979-82) and Idaho State for three seasons (1983-85). Sams coached wide receivers for Northern Iowa in '79 and the offensive line from '80-82. At Idaho State, he coached tight ends in 1983, then coached the offensive line and receivers from '84-85.

Sams and his wife, Brenda, have a daughter, Kate. Sams, who earned his Bachelor's degree at Oregon State, earned a Master's degree in Physical Education from Idaho State in 1984.